I remember, when Steve planted them, wondering if he’d be around to see them bloom. Then he left, and I wondered if any of the bulbs would grow at all, because they weren’t very productive. Then some of the most gorgeous, creamy gladiolas ever popped up and bloomed.

A few days ago, I came home to find the whole bed sheared down to dirt. I had a moment of silence for it all, then decided I’d give up the fight on that particular area of the yard. It’s directly under the black walnut tree, gets very little sunlight for that reason, and honestly, I’m just a single gardener trying to get all this stuff done in a house that I rent. I think I can let it go.

It’s still sad though. Maybe if you bought a cheap border fence (should be really marked down this time of year) and outlined the edge of the beds? We put down the rubber mat edge that sort of looks like mulch to edge the mulch in the container garden area. You just pound it in with lawn staples and the lawn mower goes right over it, no weed-whacking necessary, but it’s about 6 inches wide, so you can miss the important plants. You can also take the border/fencing with you when you eventually move.

This is exactly why my husband now mowes the lawn at our rental. I would completely freak if any of my babies were harmed through ignorance!

At our old school we used to love the days they mowed, as it left huge piles of grass clippings young children just love to play in. It’s a good thing I suppose that the school never had a garden, as few things can survive the wrath of a minimum wage janitor atop a riding mower.
Oh well. Live and learn I guess. :)

Yeah, sometimes you just have to suck it in and let it go…. or go nuts trying to do something you can’t.
Let him mow in peace… and bake him some cooking at Christmas….
Maybe he’ll listen better then (lawnmower man)

Steven, most days, I’m of a choleric nature, too. But sometimes, I’m able to overcome. Sometimes.

Heather, I actually am thinking about it…I don’t think the landlord would mind another bed, especially if I actually tended it. The weeds that had grown up with the glads definitely called for a whacking.

Jenny, it quite possibly may have been a weed whacker rather than a mower. He always does this stuff while I’m at work!

Kate, yeah…not having to mow is key.

AB, do you think they’ll rebound? I wasn’t sure if they would just grow once and be done with it. Perhaps I will go get that cup of scotch and ponder this…

Sue, with five acres, I’d let a bunch grow wild, too.

Tiya, oops…mower rage. Stay out of the way!

Katiez, you know, that’s not a bad tactic!

Lydia, he really does the rest of it quite well. This situation cracked me up a little.

OK. I’m going out on a limb to suggest that if they DON’T rebound, I will fly to Iowa and plant you a new bed next season. I am eternally optimistic about how nature is bigger and more resilient than we are … they had lots of light before they got mown (mowed?) down. I think they’ll be OK.